Laundry pouch

Abstract

A laundry composition contained within a pouch wherein the pouch can stand on its own without the need for a reinforced base. The pouch is formed from a flexible material and contains a laundry composition in at least two phases. One of the phases, together with the fold, forms a base upon which the pouch can stand without additional support. The phase that assists in forming the pouch base is a solid. Processes for making the inventive laundry pouch are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pouch comprising: 
 (a) a body made of a flexible material,    (b) a laundry composition, the composition comprising at least two phases, one phase of the composition being solid and forming a base upon which said pouch can stand without additional support.    
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the pouch is made at least in part of a water-soluble film.  
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch body comprises a fold made of the flexible material folded on itself to form a folded side of the pouch, the flexible material being sealed to itself to form at least two further sides of the pouch,  
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 3  wherein the solid phase rests on the folded side of the pouch.  
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the sides of the pouch are inclined toward each other.  
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the pouch comprises at least two sealed edges.  
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 6  wherein the solid phase rests on the side of the pouch having a sealed edge.  
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the solid phase rests on the side of the pouch which does not have a sealed edge.  
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the density of the solid phase is higher than the density of the other phase of the composition.  
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 9  wherein the densities of the two phases differ by at least about 0.2 g/l.  
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 1 , comprising at least three sealed edges.  
     
     
         12 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the solid phase comprises an ingredient selected from water-soluble solute, water-insoluble particulate and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the sides of the pouch are inclined toward the top of the pouch.  
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the pouch is in the shape a tetrahedron.  
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the pouch has a square or a rectangular planar view.  
     
     
         16 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the solid phase is formed from a structured aqueous solution.  
     
     
         17 . The pouch of  claim 16  wherein the solid phase is formed from an aqueous surfactant solution structured with soap.  
     
     
         18 . The pouch of  claim 16  wherein the sides of the pouch are inclined toward the top of the pouch.  
     
     
         19 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein one of the at least two phases is a hydrophilic or hydrophobic liquid.  
     
     
         20 . The pouch of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises at least three phases.  
     
     
         21 . A process of making the pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the process comprises filling the pouch with a laundry composition comprising a high density ingredient, which forms the solid phase upon standing.  
     
     
         22 . A process of making the pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the process comprises filling the pouch with a liquid and, subsequently, structuring the liquid, to form the solid phase.